Collecting Tube and Heat Exchanger

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a collecting tube and a heat exchanger having the same. The collecting tube includes a housing provided with a plurality of collecting channels, wherein the plurality of collecting channels are disposed at intervals; wherein the housing is further provided with a plurality of connecting portions, and the plurality of connecting portions are disposed at intervals; and the plurality of connecting portions are in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of collecting channels, each of the plurality of connecting portions communicates with a corresponding one of the collecting channels, and the plurality of connecting portions are communicated with heat exchange flat tubes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure claims the priority to Chinese patent disclosure No. 202022048021.4, filed to the China National Intellectual Property Administration on Sep. 17, 2020, and entitled “Collecting Tube and Heat Exchanger”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a technical field of microchannel heat exchangers, and in particular to a collecting tube and a heat exchanger.

BACKGROUND

At present, dual-channel or multi-channel heat exchangers in the art known to inventors not only enable dual-channel or multi-channel energy exchange, but also maximize the use of the heat exchange area and improve heat exchange efficiency when only one channel is opened.

However, four collecting tubes are generally required for a dual-channel heat exchanger, so that the number of the collecting tubes to be installed is large, and the installation process is complicated. For a multi-channel heat exchanger, more collecting tubes are required, and the installation process is more complicated.

SUMMARY

The main purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a collecting tube and a heat exchanger to solve the technical problem of complicated installation of a dual-channel or multi-channel heat exchanger in the prior art.

To this purpose, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a collecting tube. The collecting tube includes a housing, the housing is provided with a plurality of collecting channels, and the plurality of collecting channels are disposed at intervals; the housing is further provided with a plurality of connecting portions, and the plurality of connecting portions are disposed at intervals; and the plurality of connecting portions are in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of collecting channels, each of the plurality of connecting portions is communicated with a corresponding one of the plurality of collecting channels, and the plurality of connecting portions are communicated with heat exchange flat tubes.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of connecting portions includes a plurality of connecting openings, and the plurality of connecting openings are disposed at intervals in an extension direction of the housing.

In some embodiments, a plurality of connecting openings of one of two adjacent connecting portions of the plurality of connecting portions are staggered with a plurality of connecting openings of another one of the two adjacent connecting portions of the plurality of connecting portions in the extension direction of the housing.

In some embodiments, the housing includes: a first plate, the first plate being provided with a plurality of open slots, the plurality of open slots being disposed at intervals; and a second plate, the plurality of connecting portions being disposed on the second plate, the second plate being disposed on the first plate, the second plate being located at openings of the plurality of open slots so that the plurality of collecting channels are surrounded by the first plate and the second plate.

In some embodiments, the second plate is of a flat plate.

In some embodiments, the first plate includes a plurality of arc plates, and the plurality of arc plates are connected.

In some embodiments, the housing is of an integrally molded structure.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of connecting openings is of a strip-shaped structure, and an extension direction of each of the plurality of connecting openings is perpendicular to the extension direction of the housing.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes: a heat exchange tube assembly; and collecting tubes connected with the heat exchange tube assembly, the collecting tubes being the collecting tubes provided above.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange tube assembly includes a first heat exchange flat tube; the first heat exchange flat tube includes a first communication section, a body section, and a second communication section communicating in sequence; the first communication section is disposed at a first end of the body section, and the first communication section is located in a middle of the first end; the second communication section is disposed at a second end of the body section, and the second communication section is located in a middle of the second end; and the first communication section and the second communication section are communicated with collecting channels of the collecting tubes.

In some embodiments, the collecting tube is provided with a first collecting channel, a second collecting channel, and a third collecting channel, and the first collecting channel is disposed between the second collecting channel and the third collecting channel; and the heat exchange tube assembly further includes: a second heat exchange flat tube and a third heat exchange flat tube, the first heat exchange flat tube is communicated with the first collecting channel, the second heat exchange flat tube is communicated with the second collecting channel, and the third heat exchange flat tube is communicated with the third collecting channel.

With the technical solutions of the present disclosure, during installation, a dual-channel or multi-channel heat exchanger is obtained only by providing one collecting channel at each of the two ends of the heat exchange tube assembly, thereby decreasing the number of collecting tubes required for the heat exchanger, simplifying the installation steps, and facilitating installation. Therefore, with the technical solution of the present disclosure, the technical problem of complicated installation of a dual-channel or multi-channel heat exchanger in the art known to inventors is solved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of the present disclosure, are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure. The illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure and the description thereof are used to explain the present disclosure and do not constitute an undue limitation of the present disclosure. In the figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a collecting tube with two collecting channels according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a dual-channel heat exchanger with ipsilaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tubes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of an ipsilaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tube according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a dual-channel heat exchanger with heterolaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tubes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a heterolaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tube according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a heat exchanger of a V-shaped structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a collecting tube with three collecting channels according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a first heat exchange flat tube according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exploded view of a three-channel heat exchanger with ipsilaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tubes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded view of a three-channel heat exchanger with heterolaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tubes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The above figures include the following reference numerals:

10. Housing; 11. Collecting channel; 12. Connecting portion; 121. Connecting opening; 13. First plate; 14. Second plate; 20. First heat exchange flat tube; 21. First communication section; 22. Body section; 23. Second communication section; 30. Second heat exchange flat tube; and 40. Third heat exchange flat tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

It is to be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure and features in the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict. The present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and the embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 11 , some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a collecting tube. The collecting tube includes a housing 10. The housing 10 is provided with a plurality of collecting channels 11. The plurality of collecting channels 11 are disposed at intervals. The housing 10 is further provided with a plurality of connecting portions 12, and the plurality of connecting portions 12 are disposed at intervals. The plurality of connecting portions 12 are in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of collecting channels 11. Each of the plurality of connecting portions 12 is communicated with a corresponding one of the collecting channels 11. The plurality of connecting portions 12 are communicated with heat exchange flat tubes. According to this embodiment, “a plurality of” refers to two or more. According to this embodiment, the collecting tube is not only suitable for a flat plate heat exchanger, but also suitable for a heat exchanger of a V-shaped structure.

Since the housing 10 is provided with the plurality of collecting channels 11, and one of the plurality of connecting portions 12 is disposed on and correspond to each of the plurality of collecting channels 11. Therefore, connection with the corresponding collecting channel of the plurality of collecting channels 11 would be achieved through the connecting portions 12. And during installation, a dual-channel or multi-channel heat exchanger is obtained only by providing one collecting channel of the plurality of collecting channels 11 at each of two ends of a heat exchange tube assembly, thereby decreasing the number of collecting tubes required for the heat exchanger, simplifying the installation steps, and facilitating installation. Thus, by means of the collecting tube according to this embodiment, the technical problem of complicated installation of a dual-channel or multi-channel heat exchanger in the art known to inventers is solved.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of connecting portions 12 includes a plurality of connecting openings 121, and the plurality of connecting openings 121 are disposed at intervals in an extension direction of the housing 10, such that connection with a plurality of heat exchange tubes would be achieved through the plurality of connecting openings 121.

A plurality of connecting openings 121 of one of two adjacent connecting portions 12 of the plurality of connecting portions 12 are staggered with a plurality of connecting openings 121 of another one of the two adjacent connecting portions 12 of the plurality of connecting portions 12 in the extension direction of the housing 10. In this way, the plurality of heat exchange tubes can be staggered to avoid interference therebetween, which is conducive to the structural layout.

In some embodiments, the housing 10 includes a first plate 13 and a second plate 14. The first plate 13 is provided with a plurality of open slots, and the plurality of open slots are disposed at intervals. The plurality of connecting portions 12 are disposed on the second plate 14. The second plate 14 is disposed on the first plate 13. The second plate 14 is located at openings of the plurality of open slots, such that the plurality of collecting channels 11 are surrounded by the first plate 13 and the second plate 14. In this way, the structure of the housing 10 is simple, and production and manufacturing are convenient.

In some embodiments, the second plate 14 is a flat plate. In this way, it is convenient to connect the second plate 14 with the heat exchange tubes. In addition, interference caused by the second plate 14 on the heat exchange tubes is avoided, and the structural layout is optimized.

In some embodiments, the first plate 13 includes a plurality of arc plates, and the plurality of arc plates are connected. In this way, the plurality of arc open slots can be formed through the plurality of arc plates, so as to form the collecting channels 11. And when the heat exchanger is a dual-channel heat exchanger, the first plate 13 includes two arc plates, that is, the number of the arc plates is consistent with the number of channels of the heat exchanger. In some embodiments, when the dual-channel heat exchanger is adopted, the collecting tube can be of a B-type structure and can be disposed at one ends of the heat exchange tubes, and a collecting tube of a common structure can be disposed at the other ends of the heat exchange tubes.

In some embodiments, the housing 10 is of an integrally molded structure and is convenient to produce and manufacture.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of connecting openings 121 is of a strip-shaped opening, and an extension direction of each of the plurality of connecting openings 121 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the housing 10. In this way, the heat exchange tubes can be connected with the collecting tube conveniently. The height of the connecting openings 121 is minimized while ensuring the communication area of connecting positions of the collecting tube and the heat exchange tubes, thereby increasing the number of the connecting openings 121 in the housing 10 and ensuring that the housing 10 can be connected with a plurality of heat exchange tubes.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchange tube assembly and collecting tubes. The collecting tubes are connected with the heat exchange tube assembly. The collecting tubes are the collecting tubes provided above. And the heat exchange tube assembly includes heat exchange tubes.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange tube assembly includes a first heat exchange flat tube 20. The first heat exchange flat tube 20 includes a first communication section 21, a body section 22, and a second communication section 23 communicating in sequence. The first communication section 21 is disposed at a first end of the body section 22, and the first communication section 21 is located in the middle of the first end. The second communication section 23 is disposed at a second end of the body section 22, and the second communication section 23 is located in the middle of the second end. The first communication section 21 and the second communication section 23 are communicated with collecting channels 11 of the collecting tubes. With the structure of the first heat exchange flat tube 20, by optimizing the layout and necking of the first communication section 21 and the second communication section 23, interference between the first communication section 21 and the second communication section 23 and other structures of the heat exchanger can be avoided.

In some embodiments, the collecting tube is provided with a first collecting channel, a second collecting channel, and a third collecting channel, and the first collecting channel is disposed between the second collecting channel and the third collecting channel. The heat exchange tube assembly further includes: a second heat exchange flat tube 30 and a third heat exchange flat tube 40. The first heat exchange flat tube 20 is communicated with the first collecting channel. The second heat exchange flat tube 30 is communicated with the second collecting channel. The third heat exchange flat tube 40 is communicated with the third collecting channel. Since a plurality of connecting openings 121 of one of the plurality of connecting portions 12 are staggered with a plurality of connecting openings 121 of another one of the plurality of connecting portions 12, the first heat exchange flat tube 20, the second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the third heat exchange flat tube 40 are disposed at intervals in the extension direction of the housing 10.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchange flat tube 20 is located between the second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the third heat exchange flat tube 40, which is conducive to optimization of the spatial structural layout. The second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the third heat exchange flat tube 40 are of the same structure, and the second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the third heat exchange flat tube 40 are of an eccentric necking, so as to optimize the structural layout.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchange flat tube 20, the second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the third heat exchange flat tube 40 form a heat exchange flat tube group. The first heat exchange flat tube 20, the second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the third heat exchange flat tube 40 are provided with three of the plurality of connecting openings 121 one by one, and the three of the plurality of connecting openings 121 are disposed at intervals in a stepped manner.

In some embodiments, two ends of the second heat exchange flat tube 30 are provided with a first eccentric necking section and a second eccentric necking section respectively. The first eccentric necking section and the second eccentric necking section are used for being connected with the collecting tubes respectively. The first eccentric necking section and the second eccentric necking section are provided on the same side of the second heat exchange flat tube 30, and the second heat exchange flat tube 30 of such structure is referred to as an ipsilaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tube 30. Alternatively, the first eccentric necking section faces one side of the second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the second eccentric necking section faces the other side of the second heat exchange flat tube 30, and the second heat exchange flat tube 30 of such structure is referred to as a heterolaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tube 30.

In some embodiments, when the heat exchanger is of a dual-channel structure, the dual-channel structure has different flow directions depending on the structure of the second heat exchange flat tube 30. When the ipsilaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tube 30 is adopted, liquid flow in and out from the same side; and when the heterolaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tube 30 is adopted, liquid flow in from one side and flow out from the other side.

In some embodiments, when the heat exchanger is of a three-channel structure, the different channels of the three-channel structure have different flow directions depending on the structure of the second heat exchange flat tube 30. The second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the third heat exchange flat tube 40 are of the same structure. When the ipsilaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tube 30 is adopted, liquid in the second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the third heat exchange flat tube 40 flow in and out from the same side; and when the heterolaterally eccentric second heat exchange flat tube 30 is adopted, liquid in the second heat exchange flat tube 30 and the third heat exchange flat tube 40 flow in from one side and flow out from the other side.

From the above description, it can be seen that the above embodiments of the present disclosure achieve the following technical effects: the number of collecting tubes is decreased and the installation process of the heat exchanger is simplified.

It is to be noted that the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting of the exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form, and it is also to be understood that when the terms “have” and/or “include” are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and/or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise specified, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions and values of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Meanwhile, it is to be understood that the dimensions of the various parts illustrated in the drawings are not drawn to scale for ease of description. Techniques, methods and devices known to a person of ordinary skill in the related art may not be discussed in detail, but should be considered as part of the specification of the grant where appropriate. In all examples illustrated and discussed herein, any specific values should be construed as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values. It is to be noted that similar symbols and letters indicate similar terms in the following drawings, so that once an item is defined in one of the drawings, no further discussion thereof is required in the subsequent drawings.

In the description of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the directional terms “front”, “back”, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “transverse”, “vertical”, “perpendicular”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, and so on indicate directional or positional relationships generally based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the drawings, merely to facilitate the description of the present disclosure and to simplify the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referenced devices or elements must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation in the absence of a statement to the contrary, but are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. The directional terms “inside” and “outside” refer to the inside and outside relative to the contour of each component itself.

For ease of description, spatially relative terms “on”, “above”, “upper surface”, and “upper” may be used herein to describe the spatial position relationship between one device or feature and another device or feature as illustrated in the drawings. It is to be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the device in the drawings is inverted, elements described as “above” or “on” other elements or features may then be oriented “below” or “under” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “above” may include two orientations of “above” and “below”. The device may also be positioned in different ways (rotated by 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used herein are interpreted accordingly.

In addition, it is to be noted that the use of the words “first”, “second” and the like to define components is merely for the convenience of distinguishing the corresponding components. If not otherwise stated, the above words do not have a special meaning, and thus should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that various changes and variations may be made in the present disclosure. Any modification, equivalent substitution, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collecting tube, comprising: a housing provided with a plurality of collecting channels, wherein the plurality of collecting channels are disposed at intervals, wherein the housing is further provided with a plurality of connecting portions, and the plurality of connecting portions are disposed at intervals; and the plurality of connecting portions are in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of collecting channels, each of the plurality of connecting portions is communicated with a corresponding one of the plurality of collecting channels, and the plurality of connecting portions are configured to communicated with heat exchange flat tubes.
 2. The collecting tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of connecting portions comprises a plurality of connecting openings, and the plurality of connecting openings are disposed at intervals in an extension direction of the housing.
 3. The collecting tube as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of connecting portions are disposed at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the housing, a plurality of connecting openings of one of two adjacent connecting portions of the plurality of connecting portions are staggered with a plurality of connecting openings of the other of the two adjacent connecting portions of the plurality of connecting portions in the extension direction of the housing.
 4. The collecting tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises: a first plate, the first plate being provided with a plurality of open slots, the plurality of open slots being disposed at intervals; and a second plate, the plurality of connecting portions being disposed on the second plate, the second plate being disposed on the first plate, the second plate being located at openings of the plurality of open slots, the plurality of collecting channels are surrounded by the first plate and the second plate.
 5. The collecting tube as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second plate is of a flat plate structure.
 6. The collecting tube as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first plate comprises a plurality of arc plates, and the plurality of arc plates are connected in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the housing; wherein each of the plurality of arc plates is configured to form one of the plurality of collecting channels.
 7. The collecting tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is of an integrally molded structure.
 8. The collecting tube as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of connecting openings is of a strip-shaped opening, and an extension direction of each of the plurality of connecting openings is perpendicular to the extension direction of the housing.
 9. A heat exchanger, comprising: a heat exchange tube assembly; and collecting tubes connected with the heat exchange tube assembly, wherein the collecting tubes are as claimed in claim
 1. 10. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat exchange tube assembly comprises a first heat exchange flat tube; the first heat exchange flat tube comprises a first communication section, a body section, and a second communication section communicating in sequence; the first communication section is disposed at a first end of the body section, and the first communication section is located in a middle of the first end; the second communication section is disposed at a second end of the body section, and the second communication section is located in a middle part of the second end; and the first communication section and the second communication section are communicated with collecting channels of the collecting tubes.
 11. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 10, wherein that the collecting tube is provided with a first collecting channel, a second collecting channel and a third collecting channel, and the first collecting channel is disposed between the second collecting channel and the third collecting channel; and the heat exchange tube assembly further comprises: a second heat exchange flat tube and a third heat exchange flat tube, wherein the first heat exchange flat tube is communicated with the first collecting channel, the second heat exchange flat tube is communicated with the second collecting channel, and the third heat exchange flat tube is communicated with the third collecting channel.
 12. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of connecting portions comprises a plurality of connecting openings, and the plurality of connecting openings are disposed at intervals in an extension direction of the housing.
 13. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of connecting portions are disposed at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the housing, a plurality of connecting openings of one of two adjacent connecting portions of the plurality of connecting portions are staggered with a plurality of connecting openings of another one of the two adjacent connecting portions of the plurality of connecting portions in the extension direction of the housing.
 14. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing comprises: a first plate, the first plate being provided with a plurality of open slots, the plurality of open slots being disposed at intervals; and a second plate, the plurality of connecting portions being disposed on the second plate, the second plate being disposed on the first plate, the second plate being located at openings of the plurality of open slots, the plurality of collecting channels are surrounded by the first plate and the second plate.
 15. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second plate is of a flat plate structure.
 16. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first plate comprises a plurality of arc plates, and the plurality of arc plates are connected in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the housing; wherein each of the plurality of arc plates is configured to form one of the plurality of collecting channels.
 17. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing is of an integrally molded structure.
 18. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of connecting openings is of a strip-shaped opening, and an extension direction of each of the plurality of connecting openings is perpendicular to the extension direction of the housing. 